Affordable All-Stars

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE • July/August 2009

AHF selects fifth annual Readers’ Choice finalists

Thirty-five diverse developments from around the nation have been selected as finalists for AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE’s fifth annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

The selected developments represent 20 states, plus the District of Columbia, and they are home to working families, formerly homeless families and individuals, and seniors.

Two finalists—Madison at 14th Street Apartments in Oakland, Calif., and Rayen Apartments in Los Angeles— serve youths aging out of the foster-care system. Another, Bowling Green Scholar House in Bowling Green, Ky., serves parents trying to further their post-secondary education.

The dedication of the people who worked on these projects is evident in the stories on the following pages.

The finalists in the 10 categories were selected by the editors of AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE, with the help of some industry leaders, out of the approximately 140 nominations. The developments were chosen on our assessment of several key characteristics, including:

• Impact on the community by adding to the affordable housing stock or improving the immediate social or economic fabric; and
• Role in overall community revitalization or social change.

Developments had to be completed in 2008 or scheduled for completion this year.

Now, it’s up to you to choose the most deserving in each category and which development should be the overall winner. Go to www.housingfinance.com through Aug. 31 to vote. You must be an AHF subscriber to vote.

The winners will be showcased in the November/December issue and will be honored at a luncheon at the conclusion of AHF Live: The 2009 Affordable Housing Developers’ Summit on Oct. 28 at the Palmer House in Chicago.